• opportunities for increased professional interaction for public health physicians practicing in remote or isolated circumstances.

• federal and state governments develop tax incentives for individuals who train and enter governmental public health.

Public health physicians are vital to maintaining and improving the health of the public. The United States has an opportunity to build a strong public health physician workforce, but to do so requires commitment to actions that will overcome current barriers. If such commitment is forthcoming, the beneficiaries will be the people of the United States.

ASTHO (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials). 2004. State public health employee worker shortage report: A civil service recruitment and retention crisis. Washington, DC: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

Gebbie, K., and I. Hwang. 1998. Preparing currently employed public health professionals for changes in the health system. New York: Columbia University School of Nursing, Center for Health Policy & Health Services Research.

Glass, J. K. 2000. Physicians in the public health workforce. In Update on the physician workforce. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. Pp. 41-55.

HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration). 2006. Fiscal year 2007 justification of estimates for appropriations committees: Health professions. http://www.hrsa.gov/about/ budgetjustification07/publichealthworkforcedevelopment.htm (accessed May 11, 2006).

IOM (Institute of Medicine). 1988. The future of public health. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

———. 2003a. The future of the public’s health in the 21st century. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

———. 2003b. Who will keep the public healthy: Educating public health professionals for the 21st century. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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